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Why is yawning contagious? - Claudia Aguirre

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*Yaaawwwwwn* Did just reading the word make you feel like yawning yourself? Known
as contagious yawning, the reasons behind this phenomenon have been
attributed to both the physiological and psychological. It's been
observed in children as young as four and even in dogs! Claudia Aguirre
visits the many intriguing theories that might explain contagious
yawning.

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Frans de Waal speaks about moral behavior in animals, and he briefly mentions yawning. Check it out.Next time you're in a meeting, try this little experiment: Take a big yawn, cover your mouth out of courtesy and watch to see how many people follow suit. There's a good chance you'll set off a chain reaction of deep breaths and wide-open mouths. And before you finish reading this article, it's likely you'll yawn at least once. Don't misunderstand, we aren't intending to bore you, but just reading about yawning will make you do it, just as seeing or hearing someone else yawn makes us do it, too.

About TED-Ed Originals

TED-Ed Original lessons feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed original? Nominate yourself here »